Senate outlines Secret Service failures at Trump rally, calls for new management

A new report from the Senate Homeland Security Committee found Secret Service failures during both the planning and protective stages of Donald Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman tried to assassinate the former president. One of the lead investigators is now calling for a change in management at the Secret Service.

“There needs to be a change in management to provide for better leadership,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Straight Arrow News. “The chain of command was absent in Pennsylvania. There was no accountability, no pinpointing of responsibility.”

The report said the Secret Service failed to:

Clearly define responsibilities for planning and security and deflected blame.
Properly secure the building the gunman climbed to fire eight shots.
Coordinate with state and local law enforcement.
Provide proper resources, including extra drones and a counter surveillance unit.
It’s clear members of Congress don’t think those responsible have been sufficiently disciplined.

“Someone needs to be held accountable for these egregious failures by the USSS, and despite USSS, DHS, FBI, ATF, and other federal agencies’ continued obstruction of our bipartisan investigation, I will continue to push for answers and accountability,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement.

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